their hands. But their
folly dealt by the slaves, as it did by the Tories. He mentioned
the dangerous insurrections of the slaves in Greece and Sicily;
and the instructions given by Cromwell to the Commissioners sent
to Virginia to arm the servants & slaves, in case other means of
obtaining its submission should fail. Maryland & Virginia he said
had already prohibited the importation of slaves expressly. N.
Carolina had done the same in substance. All this would be in
vain if S. Carolina & Georgia be at liberty to import. The
Western people are already calling out for slaves for their new
lands; and will fill that Country with slaves if they can be got
thro' S. Carolina & Georgia. Slavery discourages arts &
manufactures. The poor despise labor when performed by slaves.
They prevent the immigration of Whites, who really enrich &
strengthen a Country. They produce the most pernicious effect on
manners. Every master of slaves is born a petty tyrant. They
bring the judgment of heaven on a Country. As nations can not be
rewarded or punished in the next world they must be in this. By
an inevitable chain of causes & effects providence punishes
national calamities. He lamented that some of our Eastern
brethren had from a lust of gain embarked in this nefarious
traffic. As to the States being in possession of the Right to
import, this was the case with many other rights, now to be
properly given up. He held it essential in every point of view,
that the Genl. Govt. should have power to prevent the increase of
slavery.

Mr. Ellsworth. As he had never owned a slave could not judge of
the effects of slavery on character. He said however that if it
was to be considered in a moral light we ought to go farther and
free those already in the Country.--As slaves also multiply so
fast in Virginia & Maryland that it is cheaper to raise than
import them, whilst in the sickly rice swamps foreign supplies
are necessary, if we go no farther than is urged, we shall be
unjust towards S. Carolina & Georgia--Let us not intermeddle. As
population increases; poor laborers will be so plenty as to
render slaves useless. Slavery in time will not be a speck in our
Country. Provision is already taken place in Connecticut for
abolishing it. And the abolition has already tak